Recovery Stroke

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

If you haven't already clicked on the above link, here is how Mr. McKoy briefly describes the sculpture:

I've always been attracted to a wing when it is in the recovery position. This is when it's the least productive and most vulnerable, yet here can be found a grace and beauty that exist nowhere else.

He quotes this scripture:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.— 2 Corinthians 12:9

That is a tough one. I mean really, "my power is made perfect in weakness." None of us wants to be weak.

It turns out that I was standing there contemplating Recovery Stroke at the end of a week that had been filled with feeling weak. (God's timing is always so interesting . . . ) Seven days earlier, I learned that a good friend's child was in the hospital. It was serious. It was scary. I felt weak. I could not be there to give my friend a hug, I could not hold her hand, or physically do anything. All I could do was pray.

So I did.

And things got worse. More serious. More scary.

So I prayed more.

Then, I reached out to others. I sent emails, and made phone calls, and said, "You do not know this person, but please pray." And guess what? Everyone prayed.

Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with people saying, "I'm praying. How are they doing?" I did not feel weak anymore - I felt amazed. Amazed at the generous kindness of others and amazed at the scenes unfolding before me. I felt like I was watching God at work. Because guess what? The child recovered. By Saturday, when I was standing there looking at Recovery Stroke, the child was home. The week ended 180 degrees from where it started. Who do we have to thank for that?

Yes, devoted and incredibly intelligent doctors. Yes, a loving and supportive family, and a huge network of friends. But it cannot be explained by just that. I know that God does not always answer prayers the way we want him to. But this time, he did. Everyone who was involved with the situation felt it. They felt God's power and grace.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

I can just hear the whoosh of a wing coming out of the recovery stroke, moving forward into the power stroke. And I feel grateful for having been a witness to this latest demonstration of God's grace and power.